Rookstone Priory.

quarter-past six chimed from a little clock on the manntclpiece . The library door opened , and a gentleman entered cautiously . He came forward slowly towards the table , and felt for the moderator lamp ; having found itho turned up the light brightly

, , the sudden glare and his footsteps awaking Mrs . Lorrimorc with a start . Opening her eyes gradually , she stared in mild , dazed wonderment . " Why , Lowndes , is that you f she said . " How you startled me , to bo sure . What

is tho time , my dear ? I ' ve not been to sleep , you know . " Mrs . Lorrimorc was one of those easygoing , pleasant-fcongucd old bodies to whom " my dear" comes as natural as the air they breathe . Tins dropping off to sloop at all hours in the day was a well-known failing ol : hers ; but siio would never own it .

" Oh , no , you have not boon to sloop , " answered Lowndes Forrester , laughing quietly , " it is a quarter-past six , aunt Jem , and time for you to see about dressing . " Ho came and stood in front of her . " Have you forgotton Miss West ? " bo added .

Standing in the full rays of the lamp and the firelight , Mr . Forrester ' s tall figure was very clearly dclined . There was a slight stoop in the broad stalwart shoulders that made him appear older than ho actually wasand the shining of the crisp

, dark hair , waving from the temples of his wide white forehead , also favoured tho idea that his years were more than they were ; there wore lines , too , above tho strongly marked brows which told of the furrows that care will sometimes make .

Like nearly all the . Forresters of Eookstone , his features were strictly aquiline ; and tho clear-cut mouth and firm square chin were entirely covered by the long soft beard . . Perfect , almost , as was the face of Lowndes Forrester , at a first glance one saw that

something yet was sadly wanting in itthat something was not as it should bo in the expression of the dark and dark-lashed eyes , the eyes that were sometimes open and sometimes tightly shut as if in the direst pain . Yeshe looked older than lie reall

, y was ; yet had scarcely attained his one-andthirtieth year . To Mrs . Lorrimorc—or , as Lowndes always called her , " aunt Jem , " which was an ugly abbreviation for the name of Jemima—there was nobody in the world

so good , handsome , or noble , as the master . of Eookstone Priory . She had lived there ever since bis mother bad died , six-andtwenty years before . She loved him now as though ho were her own son . And when death camo to Lowndes' father , she

still lived on at Eookstone as housekeeper to her nephew . Often and often did Mrs . Lorrimorc wonder if Lowndes would ever many . He himself declared that lie never would , and tender-hearted aunt Jem would cry to

herself when she board him speak so in his bitterness . She knew too well wh y bo said that lie could never ask a woman to be bis wife .

As usual , the moment that aunt Jem saw Lowndes standing near her , her countenance brightened . Slio took oil' her spectacles and began rubbing them with her pocket-handkerchief . " I really have not been to sleep , " she

said again , looking up at Lowndes with her pleasant loving eyes . " Ob no ! " be returned good-humouredly . " Have yen forgotton—" " Miss West ? " interrupted aunt Jem . " No , my dear , I ' ve not forgotten her .

I suppose she will soon be hero . " " The carriage has gone already . " " Has it t Well then I must make haste f and Mrs . Lorrimorc rose from her cosy seat by tho fireside rather reluctantly , and moved towards the door . Then she

stopped short , and , turning , spoke to Lowndes Forrester , who bad not moved from his position by the fireplace . " Lowndes , dear boy , " said aunt Jem , with a tinge of anxiety in her voice , " are you quite sure you don ' t mind her coming V

" I was just wondering what she would be like , " returned he smiling . " Yes , but , Lowndes , are you sure you do not repent having given me leave to have her hero at Eookstone 1 I could have got on very well alone , you know .

Although , " added aunt Jem , with a dolorous shake of her head , " I am getting an ol ' d woman now , and am not so active as I was once . " " Oh no ! I was only thinking how dull she would boand wonderingif a livel

, , y sort of a girl , bow in the world she would manage to live her life in this quiet old house of ours . Wc , you see , are used to it , auut Jem . "